Raw materials must be used in producing steel at home to meet local demand while reducing import volume of steel: Senior General

It is necessary to produce not only steel wares but cement used in construction sites to meet the local demand and all products must be high quality, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing yesterday afternoon inspected No 3 Steel Mill (Ywama) of Myanmar Economic Corporation and Hepatitis (B) Vaccine Factory of Pharmaceutical Foctory Branch (Ywathagyi) under the Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) in Insein Township of Yangon Region.
At No 3 Steel Mill (Ywama), officials reported to the Senior General on efforts to produce high-quality steel products, systematic arrangement for prevention of environmental degradation, availability of raw materials, production of oxygen and revamping of the mill.
In his address, the Senior General said iron and steel products are essential for the state-building tasks. Raw materials must be used in the production of steel at home to meet local demand while reducing the import volume of steel. The Senior General expressed his encouragement to the semi-government production of the State-owned and MEC industries as well as private ones.
It is necessary to produce not only steel wares but cement used in construction sites to meet the local demand and all products must be high quality. Likewise, bolts and nuts used in the construction sites must be produced at home for serving the interests of the State.
The Senior General inspected the revamping process of the mill.
At Hepatitis (B) Vaccine Factory of Pharmaceutical Factory Branch (Ywathagyi) under the Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) in Insein Township, Union Minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than and officials reported on the development of domestic pharmaceutical production, work process for the production of COVID-19 vaccines at home and production process of Hepatitis (B) vaccine.
In his response, the Senior General said that pharmaceutical production should prioritize the local demand in the market economic system. The government eases restrictions for domestic pharmaceutical production but will conduct suitable undertakings. A suitable tax rate is set for raw material importers.
Efforts must be made for the soonest production of the COVID-19 vaccine for current use and research must be done for long term production at home. It is necessary to arrange the production of COVID-19 vaccines in cooperation in medical technology with foreign countries and change the production of other drugs if necessary. Manufacturing of vaccines depending on variants of COVID-19 with farsightedness for the worst situation can reduce spending of foreign exchange without reliance on the foreign countries.
The Senior General and party viewed the production process at the Pharmaceutical Factory.
Hepatitis (B) Factory was built in 2002 with the aim of vaccinating all infants and the construction tasks were completed in 2003. It got an FDA licence in 2005 and launched production in May 2007. At present, the factory continuously produces Hepatitis (B) vaccines. Officials hold necessary discussions to produce the COVID-19 vaccine. — MNA